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WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC 

INSTITUTE 



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1 Boynton Hall 5 Salisbury Laboratories 

2 Washburn Shops 6 Foundry 

3 Power Laboratory 7 Elect. Eng. Laboratories 

4 Engineering Laboratories 8 Magnetic Laboratory 

9 President's Residence 
1909 



Worcester Polytechnic Institute 



Worcester, Mass. 




Published by the Institute 
January, 1909 



Worcester Polytechnic Institute 

WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS. 

EDMUND A. ENGLER, Ph. D., LL. D., President. 



THE POWER LABORATORY 



A^ 




A SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING 

providing four-year courses of instruction in 

mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, 

Civil Engineering, Chemistry, 

General Science, 

leading to the degree of 

Bachelor of Science. 

EXTENSIVE LABORATORIES 

for experimental work 



Mechanical Engineering, 
Steam Engineering, 
Hydraulic Engineering, 
Civil Engineering, 



Electrical Engineering, 

Physics, 

General Chemistry, 

Industrial Chemistry. 



WELL EQUIPPED SHOPS 

providing ample facilities for practice in 
Moulding, Forging, Machine Construction, Pattern Making, 
Operation of Engines and Boilers. 



For Catalogue giving courses of study, positions filled by graduates, and all necessary informa- 
tion, address the President, or J. K. MARSHALL, Registrar. 



Gift 

Publlshftr 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 




THE WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 
1909 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 



The Worcester Polytechnic Institute was founded in 1865 by a gift of $100,000 from 
John Boynton of Templeton, Mass. Further gifts by citizens of Worcester, supplemented by 
state donations, made possible the construction and equipment of its present nine buildings. 

The Institute was opened for the reception of students in 1868, and the first class was 
graduated in 1871. 

Worcester is a city of 140,000 inhabitants, an important centre of steam and electric rail- 
ways. It contains extensive shops and manufactories and its industries are as diversified and 
as important as those of any city of its size in the world. Here are located the great wire mills 
of the Washburn and Moen Works of the American Steel and Wire Co., the shops of the Crompton- 
Knowles Loom Co., and many others hardly less important, all offering unusual opportunities 
for the investigation of practical manufacturing operations. The other great manufacturing 
centres of New England and New York are easily accessible. The location of the Institute, 
therefore, is especially favorable to the engineering student. 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 












,„_ Electrical ENOiNtERiNC Building 
• wOr,cejter, Polytechnic injtitute,- ~% 

PEftbODY AND ^rt-ffXiNi AftCHJT tCT* ■ ■ &COTON "^ 

PtOF AW F^tictj- C0tf5ULTlN& ClKlNEUL^, ^ 







ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING BUILDING 



'\\'01iCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 



The Institute occupies a tract of land about sixteen acres in extent, in the northwestern 
part of the city. The buildings are on a sightly elevation which slopes on the north to Institute 
Park, and which on the east and south overlooks much of the city proper. The buildings on 
this tract are eight in number, as follows: Boynton Hall, devoted to administration offices, 
the Library of General Reference, recitation rooms and the rooms of the Department of Civil 
Engineering; the Washburn Shops, including wood, machine and forge shops; the Salisbury 
Laboratories, devoted to Chemistry and Physics; the Engineering Laboratory', occupied 
by the Departments of Drawing and of Mechanical Engineering; the Power Laboratory, 
where are installed the engines that furnish power to the Washburn Shops and the Mechanical 
Laboratory, and the dynamos that supply power to the Electrical Engineering Laboratory, 
and light and heat to most of the Institute buildings; the Foundry; the Magnetic Laboratory 
and the Electrical Engineering Building which is devoted to the work of the Department 
of Electrical Engineering. Besides these buildings the Institute has one dormitory, Newton 
Hall, a short distance away, on State Street, and a Hy'draulics Laboratory, situated at 
Chaffins, about five miles distant. 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 



IN THE POWER LABORATORY 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 



The Work op the Institute is carried on under the direction of a Faculty of nineteen 
professors, twenty-eight instructors, and numerous assistants in laboratories and workshops. 
Five courses of study are offered, each four years in length and each leading to the degree of 
Bachelor of Science. Graduate courses are provided, leading to the degree of Master of Science 
and Doctor of Science, and the professional degrees of Mechanical, Civil and Electrical Engineer 
are conferred upon properly qualified candidates. Students desiring to enter the Institute 
are examined in History, English, French or German, Spanish or Latin, Algebra, Plane and 
Solid Geometry and Chemistry or Physics. From certain accredited schools, a certificate is 
accepted in place of all examination. 

The work in all courses is based upon a broad foundation of Mathematics, French or German, 
English, Chemistry, Drawing, Physics, Political Science and Civil Government. During Fresh- 
man year the studies are common to all courses. With the Sophomore year the special work 
of each course is emphasized. 

A feature of all Institute courses is the importance attached to practical work in the work- 
shops, and the large amount of laboratory practice, physical, chemical, electrical, mechanical 
and hydraulic required in all courses. Instruction is by means of text-books, lectures, with 
recitations, conferences and practical work in workshop and laboratory. Each course requires, 
as a condition of graduation, the preparation of a thesis, involving original research. 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 




IN THE MECHANICAL ENGINEERING LABORATORIES 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 



The Course in Mechanical Engineering offers instruction in the scientific principles 
underlying all engineering, but with particular emphasis laid upon tliose principles that relate 
to design, construction, and operation of machinery. The broad foundation sup]:»licd by the 
studies of Freshman and Sophomore years, prepares the student for the scientific and technical 
studies of Junior and Senior years. Throughout the course, the student devotes an average 
of twelve hours per week to shop practice, to the actual construction of machinery in the shops 
of the Institute. In the various laboratories, chemical, physical, mechanical, etc., he carriers 
out experiments that both reveal and apply the natural laws of matter and energy, thus sup- 
plementing the theoretical instruction of the class-room. The studies of the Institute and the 
practice are further supplemented by frequent visits to the manufacturing establishments of 
Worcester and neighboring cities of New England. 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 




MACHINE SHOP, WASHBURN SHOPS 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 



The Courses in Civil Engineering, General and Sanitary, are designed to prepare the 
student in the art of engineering in such a way that he may be fitted upon graduation to be of 
value in the subordinate positions of the profession, and, further, to furnish him with such a 
grasp of the fundamental principles of the science of engineering, that he may, after acquiring 
experience, be fitted to design and direct important work. 

To accomplish the first object an amount of practice in surveying, drawing and computation 
is provided, which may enable a faithful student to be a good surveyor, a neat draughtsman, 
and an accurate computer. 

The broad general training common to all the courses, is followed by special instruction in 
strictly civil engineering subjects. The method of instruction employed is largely the study 
of text-books, supplemented by lectures and individual instruction in field and office work. 
A liberal use is made of current engineering literature and frequent visits are made to engineering 
works. 

Students in the course in Sanitary Civil Engineering substitute during Junior and Senior 
years, work in Chemistry and Bacteriology for work in Railroad Engineering, Geology and 
Higher Structures. 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 




A SUMMER SURVEYING CAMP 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 



The Course in Chemistry is designed not only to prepare the student for actual work, 
as a practical chemist, but to give him the knowledge of theoretical chemistry which is absolutely 
(^ssential to one whose aim is higher than that of a mere analyst. While it is absolutely necessary 
in technological training, that the student should make himself entirely familiar with the aualj^sis 
of minerals, ores, iron, fuels, oils, gas, water and foods, it is also equally important that he should 
have a knowledge of the history and progress of the science, that he should understand the 
meaning of research work, and, by the study of American and foreign journals, obtain a knowl- 
edge of what is being done by others at the present time. 

The Course in Chemistry includes the studies already mentioned as common to all courses. 
In addition, the Department of Chemistry is well equipped with laboratories to cany on its 
special work. These include a General, an Analytical, an Organic, an Industrial, a Sanitary 
and a Gas Laboratory and many rooms all well equipped for research work along particular lines. 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 




IX THE LABORATORY OF INDUSTRIAL CHEMISTRY 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 



The Course in General Science is intended to meet the needs of young men who expect 
to take non-technical positions in commerce and manufactm'ing, to become teachers, or to enter 
upon professional study later. To such students with more general needs, it opens a broader 
range of study than is possible in the more technical courses, which train engineers and chemists. 

The Course in General Science is no less exacting in quantity or quality of work required 
of its students, but a certain amount of elective work is allowed, as the student's individual 
purposes and aptitudes make this available. These electives are chosen from the regular work 
of the various courses, with especial options offered in History, Political Science, Economics 
and Physics. To the end of the first half of Sophomore year the Course in General Science 
is identical with that in Chemistry. Beyond that point students in the Course in General 
Science are required to take all work common to all the other courses, the remainder of the 
schedule to be filled in conference with the President of the Institute. 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 



IN THE PHYSICS LABORATORIES 



"WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 



The Course in Electrical Engineering is designed to provide a young man intending 
to take up practical and professional engineering work in connection with the various electrical 
industries, with a theoretical and practical training which will enable him to enter upon such 
duties understandingly and with a good foundation for his life work as an engineer. 

Those studies previously mentioned as common to all courses, form the foundation in the 
Course in Electrical Engineering. In addition emphasis is laid on the study of subjects 
especially necessary to the electrical engineer, while the course includes nearly all the subjects 
required for Mechanical Engineering. During the last year certain electives are offered. In 
the Senior and Graduate years there are extended courses on the theory and application of 
electricity, in laboratory work and electrical design and in related subjects. 

Visits of inspection are made each 5'^ear to important installations, and frequent addresses 
are given by alumni and other practising engineers, before the students of the course. 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 




CAR TESTING STAND 



W. P. I. TEST CAR ON TESTING STAND 





ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DESIGN RGOiM 



300 H. p. MOTOR-GENERATOR 



"WOKCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 

The Salisbury Laboratories, erected in 1888, are devoted to the work in Chemistry and 
Physics. 

The Department of Chemistry occupies over 20,000 square feet of floor space. Its various 
laboratories include a General, an Analytical, an Organic, an Industrial, a Sanitary, a Bac- 
teriological, an Electrolytic and a Gas Analysis Laboratory, all thoroughly equipped with per- 
manent fittings and apparatus for carrying on the work of the Department. 

The Department of Physics occupies, besides lecture and recitation rooms and offices, 
laboratories for work in Elementary Mechanics, Electricity, Heat and Physical Chemistry, 
Magnetism and other special laboratories, also a spectrometer room, a photographic room, a 
photometric room and other rooms for constant temperature, for storage battery, apparatus 
and storage. The equipment of the Department is that suitable to a first-class engineering 
and science college. 

The Electrical Engineering Building, opened in the fall of 1907, is devoted to the work 
in Electrical Engineering. It has a total floor space of 48,000 square feet and contains a general 
laboratory, smaller laboratories for special work, offices, a Department Library with capacity 
for over 3,000 volumes, smaller rooms for storage batteries, etc., lecture and recitation rooms, 
drawing and design rooms. The building is served with a 10-ton electric travelling crane and 
smaller trolley hoists. 

The equipment includes a large variety of dynamos, motors, testing and calibrating instru- 
ments, various kinds of apparatus for power and light, all connected by a complete system of 
wires and switchboards ; also a complete double truck, four-motor interurban car, equipped with 
the latest style of motors, controlling and braking apparatus, and a very complete set of recording 
instruments that will measure the power consumption, speed, traction effort, etc., of the car 
under test. This car may be run upon the rails of the local system and sent to any part of the 
country for testing work. 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 




GENERAL LABORATORY, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING BUILDING 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 



The Engineering Laboratory is occupied by the Departments of Drawing and Machine 
Design, Mechanical Engineering and Steam and Hydraulic Engineering. 

The Mechanical Engineering Laboratory is equipped with testing apparatus in great variety, 
including torsion, tension and compression, a cement-testing machine, a belt-tester and various 
pieces of minor apparatus such as extensometers, dynamometers, etc. For studying purely 
steam phenomena the Laboratorj^ has calorimeters of various types, indicator and gauge t(>sting 
apparatus, condenser and air-pump gauges, thermometers, etc. 

In the Power Laboratory are installed three large steam-engines, for experimental purposes, 
the regular service plant consisting of three directly connected engines, and a gas-engine. They 
supply power to the Washburn Shops and the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory. Four 
boilers, aggregating 600-horse power, are installed, furnishing steam to engines and for any 
experiments, and supplying heat to the entire Institute. 

In the Power Laboratory are located the heavy dynamos of the Department of Electrical 
Engineering, which furnish power to the Laboratory of that Department and light to the build- 
ings of the Institute; also a complete refrigerating plant of one-half ton capacity. 

The Hydraulics Laboratory is at Chaffins, a station on the Boston and Maine R. P., 
about five miles from the Institute, which here owns a water privilege of 80-horse power. For 
experimental purposes there is an 80-horse power Hercules waterwheel, with full equipment of 
meters, weirs, piezometers, etc., for registering flow, velocity and pressure. 

Smaller hydraulic apparatus is installed in the Engineering Laboratory. It consists of 
pumps, orifice tanks, meters, hydraulic ram, etc. 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 




IN THE FORGE ROOM 



WOECESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 



The Washburn Shops buildings consist of a three-story central structure with several 
extensions, and a Foundry. The shops contain rooms for wood work, machine work, forge work, 
draughting and designing, tool rooms, and painting and finishing rooms, offices, etc., in all com- 
prising more than an acre of floor-space. 

The Woodworking Department is equipped with thirty-six benches, each supplied with 
hand tools. A full equipment of the latest forms of machine-tools is available, comprising 
.planers, saws, mortising-machines, etc. 

In the machine room are lathes, planers, shapers, milling-machines, drills, gear cutters, 
etc., and a full supply of standard gauges, threads and measures. 

In the Forge-Shop are twenty-six forges of the down-draft type and heavy vises, shears, 
swedge-blocks, etc., for use in common. 

The Foundry, erected in 1902, is equipped with two cupola furnaces, two crucible furnaces, 
cranes, hydraulic elevator, core ovens, pickling vats, and rattlers. It is complete in every respect. 
The Washburn Shops, besides furnishing the students of the Institute with practical work, are 
conducted as a business enterprise engaged in the manufacture of standard machine-tools on a 
commercial basis, and giving employment in wood and machine shop, in forge and foundry, to 
a large number of skilled workmen. 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 




MADE IN THE WASHBURN SHOPS 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 



The Expenses of a Student at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute seldom exceed $450 
a year, and are generally much less. Tuition, including laboratory fees, is $160 a year. The 
expenses for books, supplies and drawing instruments will average $25 a year. Good board 
can be secured in the vicinity of the Institute at from $3.50 to $4.50 a week, and rooms with 
light and heat will cost from $40 to $60 a year. 

The Institute has one Dormitory and Dining-room, Newton Hall. In this Dormitory 
about thirty students find rooms, and about sixty can be accommodated with board. The 
price of rooms ranges from $40 to $70 a year. The price of board is $3.75 a week. 

There are about thirty scholarships, granting free tuition to the holder, available for residents 
of Worcester County, and forty additional scholarships for residents of the State of Massachusetts.' 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 




1 r^i fiiBViii j|t 

|iliiiu-ir 




THE PRESIDENT S HOUSE 





NEWTON HALL 




PHI GAMMA DELTA HOUSE 



SIGMA ALPHA EPSILON HOUSE 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 



The Library of General Reference of the Institute is in Boynton Hall. There are, 
besides, department libraries in the several buildings where the principal work of the departments 
is carried on. 

The Worcester Free Public Library of 168,000 volumes and the library of the American 
Antiquarian Society of 120,000 volumes, are available for students of the Institute. 

Football, baseball, basketball, track athletics and tennis are encouraged within proper 
limits, the management of the various branches of athletic sport being in the hands of the students, 
acting with an advisory board of the Faculty. A cinder track and space for field athletics, 
football and baseball practice, and tennis, are available on the Institute grounds, and on 
Alumni Field which lies across West Street from the Institute. 

Student societies have been organized to discuss technical and scientific subjects and to 
hear addresses from alumni and other specialists on topics of engineering interest. These societies 
include a Mechanical Engineering, a Civil Engineering, a Chemical and an Electrical Engineering 
Society. 

The Journal of the Institute appears bi-monthly and is an exponent of the activities 
of students, alumni and Faculty. It is issued under the direction of a student board of editors, 
acting with an advisory board of Faculty and alumni. 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 





THE MAGNETIC LABORATORY 



THE FOUNDRY 




THE HYDRAULICS LABORATORY AT CHAFFINS 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 



The Alumni of the Institute now number 1,189. Since the Institute was opened in 1868, 
there have been admitted 2,497 students, of whom 1,272 graduated. Eighty-three have died 
among these graduates, leaving at the present time 1,189 hving graduates. Of these over ninety 
per cent, are engaged in work for which their training at the Institute actuallj^ fitted them. 

Among the earUer classes are to be found superintendents, managers, partners and pro- 
prietors of almost every variety of manufacturing industry. Many are chief engineers, chief 
draughtsmen and designers. More than a score are practising lawyers, chiefly patent lawyers, 
and almost without exception these have served as Examiners in the United States Patent Office 
where there are always representatives of the Institute alumni. 

The more recent graduates begin their life work as foremen, draughtsmen, inspectors and 
assistants in office, shop, field and laboratory. Many in recent years have entered the profession 
of teaching along the line of drawing, mathematics, sciences, and mechanical or electrical engi- 
neering, and are now filling important positions in high schools, normal schools and universities. 
The demand for graduates of the Institute is constant and at times is far in excess of the available 
supply. 



AVORCESTER POIA'TECHNIC INSTITUTE 




, IN THE FOUNDRY 



WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 




WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 
1871 




LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 



029 996 887 A 




